Barbara Lee Commemorates 40th Anniv of the Civil Rights Act
Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008
Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.Res.1095, which honors the 40th anniversary of congressional passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, or the Fair Housing Act:
“The Fair Housing Act was critical in ending the rampant discrimination in the housing industry 40 years ago. Today the Fair Housing Act continues to play a vital and significant role in ensuring fair and equal access to housing for all Americans.
“It is, in part, due to the failure of this administration to enforce these civil rights laws that lead to the predatory lending practices that fueled the housing crisis our nation now faces.
“Just like many other innovative and progressive ideas about equality and fairness, the Fair Housing Act had a California precursor, the Rumford Fair Housing Act, one of the first fair housing laws in the nation. Former Assemblyman Byron Rumford, the first African American from Northern California elected to the California legislature, and whose seat I was later honored to hold, passed this landmark bill in 1963, and today I honor his memory and his legacy.
“But like many today who argue that the housing and financial services industries do not need further oversight or regulation, a candidate for governor of California fought against fair housing over 40 years ago. That candidate was Ronald Reagan.
“Thankfully, Ronald Reagan lost his fight to make housing discrimination, the law in California, and 40 years ago the Congress passed the Fair Housing Act to outlaw discrimination in housing in every state of the union.
“Unfortunately, today the promise of the Fair Housing Act remains unfulfilled.
“We must continue to educate Americans about their right to fair housing and work together to enforce the law.
“We can do this by fully funding fair housing programs, at $84 million, in FY 2009.
“Madam Speaker, we must commit to making these critical investments to guarantee fair housing for all Americans.
“I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.”
# # #
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) is First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the Appropriations Committee.